The Set-Up by Sophie McKenzie

Series: Medusa Project, Book One

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Paperback (Waterstones Exclusive Edition)

Published: 2^nd May 2009

Number of Pages: 320

Book: Bought

Genre: Science-Fiction, Realistic-Fiction, Thriller-Suspense, Action-Adventure, Mystery, YA, YA-Children Crossover

Recommended Age: 11+

Contains: Mild Violence, Swearing

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Sophie McKenzie

Fourteen years ago, scientist William Fox implanted four babies with the Medusa gene – a gene for psychic abilities.  But Fox died and the babies were hidden away for years.

Now they’re teenagers – and unaware that their psychic powers are about to kick in.

Cocky, charismatic Nico thinks his emerging telekinetic abilities will bring him money, power and the girl of his dreams.  He’s about to find out how wrong he is…

                                                                   Review:

Over a decade ago, four babies were implanted with a gene known as the Medusa gene.  Its purpose?  To bring out psychic abilities.  But the scientist behind the experiment, William Fox, died, and the identity of the babies became unknown.  Now, all four are teenagers, with no clue of the powers that are inside them.

Nico Rafael’s power is telekinesis, and he’s certain that it will bring him everything he ever wanted – including the girl he’s loved for years.  But Nico is about to find out that sometimes, everything is not as it seems.  And that not everyone can be trusted…

This one had been sitting on my shelf for ages, just waiting to be read.  I can’t believe I left it for so long!  Just like all her other books, it was awesome!  Fast paced, strong characters, believable relationships, wonderful writing.  Plus: superpowers!  Call me juvenile, but who doesn’t want superpowers?!  The Set Up was a fun, funny, super-power-packed book, which left me addicted and itching for Book Two.  Another winner from Sophie McKenzie!  Loved it!

Nico was great: fun, snarky and very resourceful.  I just loved his sense of humour.  Although, I just can’t believe some of the things he used his power for!  He really loved Ketty – not having her as a friend devastated him.  Plus, everything he did, he did for Ketty: totally sweet.  On the other hand, he was kinda stupid and reckless sometimes: an act-before-I-think sort of character.  I loved him!

Ketty (short for Keturah, eek!) Wilshire was sweet, Nico’s best friend.  She was addicted to running, and wasn’t that interested in girly, material things.  She was… practical.  Even though at one point I felt like yelling at her, overall I really liked her. 

Ed O’Brien was the new kid at school.  He was super smart, really nice, and kind of geeky.  Also… sort of a goody-two-shoes – a bit of a snitch.  But, as the book went on, he got more confident and sarcastic: I like him better snarky!

Dylan Fox was an odd character.  She seemed distant and almost… smug? to begin with.  She was also rather arrogant.  But she was good at jumping into action, with the: perfect drawl.  She was aggressive, but so vulnerable, damaged, broken.  And: wonderfully sarcastic.  All the way through, I wondered what she was hiding…  I started off unsure of her, but by the end I got her.  She had more backbone that anyone gave her credit for – than I gave her credit for.  I loved Dylan – she was the character I actually wrote the most notes on.

And there were two characters I swung between trusting, and being completely suspicious of.  I just could not make up my mind on whether or not they were good.  And I actually completely misjudged one of them!  Don’t you love people you can’t guess about?

Some twists… ok, I guessed (I’m a top-notch guesser).  But others… completely threw me.  And don’t you love surprises?  Guessable plots can be majorly boring, and therefore twisty books are lovely!

The best bit about this book was, by far, the action and super powers.  Or more specifically, the parts where there was action AND superpowers.  And how the abilities came about was also super cool (pun intended).  And the different powers were just awesome.  Mind reading, future seeing… it was all so, so brilliant!  I want a superpower, please!

The Set-Up was a quick, fun read, with great characters and action.  Sophie rocks!  And Nico’s the best!  I can’t wait to see where all the characters go, where the plot goes…

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Blood Ties and Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie

Hero.Com by Andy Briggs

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

Happy Reading

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted The Bookette)

Off the Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenges)

Megan

Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie

Series: Blood Ties, Book Two

Publisher: Simon & Schuester Children’s Books

Format: Paperback

Published: 1^st October 2011

Number of Pages: 432

Book: Bought

Genre: Realistic-Ficion, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Horror, Action-Adventure, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Death

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Sophie McKenzie

WARNING: May Contains Spoilers From Previous Book

Clones Rachel and Theo now live thousands of miles apart.  They keep in touch regularly via the internet, but things just aren’t the same.

When Rachel discovers that evil scientist Elijah is still working in secret for a section of the government and about to murder Daniel, she sets out to rescue the little boy, but her plans backfire with disastrous consequences.

Across the Atlantic, Theo becomes suspicious when Rachel misses their weekly internet chat.  He discovers a report online saying she’s killed herself and travels to Scotland to find her, certain that she’s been kidnapped.  A clue leads him to Elijah’s mysterious clinic, where the sinister Aphrodite Experiment is underway.  But why does Elijah need to track Rachel down so badly?  And what is the ultimate ransom that he demands for her?

Review:

Nine months have passed since Blood Ties, and Theo and Rachel now live across the Atlantic from one another.  They’ve been given new identities to protect them.  Why?  Because they are clones.  They were created by the evil genius Elijah, and are hunted by both him and a group known as RAGE (the Righteous Army against Genetic Engineering), who view clones as “unnatural”.  But when Rachel finds out that Elijah is about to kill Daniel, a five-year-old clone of the scientist, to take the child’s healthy heart for himself, Rachel just knows that she has to do something.  Even if that means giving up her new identity… or maybe even more…  With a little help, she smuggles herself onto the island Elijah is working on.  That’s when it goes downhill for her...  Meanwhile, Theo becomes worried when Rachel misses their weekly chat, and when he finds an article saying that she has committed suicide, he knows something has happened to her.  Something bad.  With the help of Lewis, who helped the two escape Elijah’s clutches the first time, Theo travels to Scotland.  Both he and Rachel have no idea what Elijah is planning.  But, knowing Elijah, it’ll terrible.  They just had no idea how terrible…

I love Sophie McKenzie’s books.  She has a way of creating brilliant characters that feel so real and worlds that both scare the life out of me and absolutely thrill me.  I had no idea how Blood Ransom was going to beat Blood Ties (which is one of my favourite books) and was almost scared to read the sequel, worried I’d be let down.  I should have known I had nothing to worry about.  With non-stop action, dual narratives and evil scientists, Blood Ransom never let me go from start to finish. 

Rachel: love her!  She was an overweight, shy girl in the first book, but it this one… well, what a transformation!  Now Rachel is strong, brave, stubborn and confident: a girl who can hold her own.  (Those of you who have read a few more of my reviews have probably picked up on the fact that I loathe weak girls who go running to the strong boy in bad situations.  I am pleased to say Rachel was the complete opposite, though she was a little gullible at times.)  As for Theo, I always liked him.  However, now I love him.  I really got to see what was going on inside his head, and how much he loved Rachel.  He’d do anything for her.  Yes, it’s probably odd, seeing as they’re both teenagers for the two to be so… committed.  But it’s sweet and believable; and nothing like foolish-first-love. 

Lewis is another character I feel I have to mention: passionate, strong and out for revenge of Elijah, I was so glad to have him back!  He’s the kind of person I’d love to have as a big brother – just… without the revengeful side.  Although you could understand why: Elijah is cruel and heartless and evil.  He thinks because he “created” Theo and Rachel, he can just do anything with them, something I hated.  Elijah’s the classic evil-genius villain who is just designed to be loathed.  The ultimate bad-guy.

Now, whilst this is a definite thriller, it also has a moral aspect.  How far should we allow science to go?  Now, I’m not saying I’m going to go all murderous like RAGE, but should we let people create life just because they can?  And then do anything with that ‘creation’ (for lack of a better word), including killing them?  Yes, Sophie McKenzie’s books often have me thinking…

Back to Blood Ransom: I loved the twists and turns and suspense of this book.  I was never bored, I loved every single second and I was left longing for more.  So, to fill the hole, I am going to read The Medusa Project!  Honestly?  I recommend this series: it’s thrilling, exciting and it grips you from the first to the very last word.  Sophie McKenzie is just the most amazing author, and I can’t wait to see what Sister, Missing brings us!

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:
Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie

Cherub by Robert Muchamore

The Darkness Series by Leonard D. Hilley II (For Older Readers)

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)

Happy Reading

Megan